Streets and Trips 2007 has been released and the features could go some way to filling the void for live in-car navigation on Windows XP. Especially in Europe where there is nothing really suitable for in-car operation without a keyboard.

If you read the UMPC tailoring news item that I wrote (referencing an MSDN blog.) then you might remember this:

Lastly, we made the first significant investments in tailoring the application for ultra-mobile PCs, so that as that platform begins to emerge in CY07 we have a winning offering to attach to UMPC sales.

However, on the Microsoft page showing system requirements it says:

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution monitor with 256 colors.

I hope that’s wrong.

I’ve just read a review of S&T 2007 at GPSPassion and there has also been a very important issue highlighted - it doesn’t appear to auto re-route if you make an wrong turn. I don’t like the sound of that.

On the positive side, integration with Windows Live search looks nice and brings online the idea of central POI databases. I hope somehow we can use live traffic status databases in Europe.

According to Microsoft, the Autoroute version of the program (European maps) has also been released but I don’t see any information in Europe about the actual product and not a single on-line retailer offering. Do they think that the US market needs it more than we do over here? Strange marketing.

Anyway. It looks good, looks like great value and if it works on 800×480, I’ll probably be buying a copy of it as soon as its available in Europe.

Steve / Chippy.